‘Not only Muslims, even secular Hindus are scared’: Congress

New Delhi, Mar 21 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government was creating an atmosphere of fear in the nation and said that not only Muslims but even the secular Hindu is scared presently.

Citing examples of the recent communal episodes, Azad told ANI that he had never seen the nation so tensed while stating that the thoughts of secularism prospered even during the regime of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“The situation is getting worse. In Jammu, a truck was carrying coal but it was alleged that it was carrying cow and after that it was set on fire. Kitchens are being checked, that what is cooking; like mess of Aligarh University is being checked, The kitchen of Kerala house in Delhi was raided to see whether beef is being cooked or not,” he said, asserting that all limits have been crossed.

“Two men in Jharkhand were hanged over the rumour that they had bought cow for beef. Every animal is not bought for eating purpose. Muslims need cows for the same reason any non-Muslim wants. So now, a Muslim cannot buy a cow,” he added.

Further slamming the government for not taking adequate steps to curb the situation, Azad said, “This is jungle raj. No action is being taken against the defaulters. The Prime minister is not taking any action against the ministers. Amit Shah did not take action against the MLAs or MPs, such incidents have spoiled the atmosphere of the country, there is stress and mistrust in the nation, we have never had such an environment in the nation.”

“At the time of Congress tenure or even at the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, such incidents never occurred. Leave the Muslims, even the secular Hindu is scared today,” he added.

The Congress yesterday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to put a check on growing communal hatred in the country while emphasizing that an environment of ‘mistrust’ was being created for electoral gains.

“With great dismay, I am impelled to observe that such episodes of mob violence seem to give a spectacle,” he wrote.

“Of some parts of world where democracy doesn’t exist not of India-which is respected as vibrant democracy governed by rule of law,” Azad added.

The Congress leader in his letter also said that normal transport and trading of animals from one place to another should not be targeted.

Earlier on Saturday, the Jharkhand Police arrested five suspects in connection with the killing of two cattle traders, who were found hanging from a tree. (ANI)